Featureless AK - Monsterman or Kydex Grip Wrap

[SandHill]

With new AW legislation, featureless is looking pretty attractive for AK's. A couple of the more popular ways to get there are the Monsterman AK grip: http://monstermangrip.com/mmg-ak/

And a Kydex grip wrap around your regular grip like this one from Solar Tactical: http://shop.solartactical.com/AK47-S...N-GRIP-325.htm

What are the pros and cons of each? What do you guys prefer? Does the answer change if you are shooting left handed? The Solar Tactical order form requires you to specify left or right handed, while the Monsterman looks like the same one works both ways. I am not really settled on whether I prefer shooting AK lefty or righty so am leaning towards Monsterman but like to hear from those who have used them.

[Q]

Why not just take the grip off and lock it in a box. It's pretty comfortable like a garand or bolt action like this.

[spdrcr]

I settled on a Solar Tactical grip wrap. I tried the Monsterman but found that it twisted and spun on the receiver because the AR-to-AK adaptor required didn't adequately capture the square nut that protrudes through the receiver like the standard pistol grips do.

[btm]

The monsterman is interesting, I think it works better if you relax the grip and think of it as a support for the rifle rather than a handle. That might not make sense if you don't have one in your hand.

[Fern]

The both work well. I have no preference either way.

[Mossy Man]

i like fitted monsterman + grip adapter

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

I tried both the Monsterman grip and Solar Tactical grip wraps; went with the grip wrap only because the MM angle was not comfortable. I'd say try both if you can and go with what fits you better.

[BoydCrowder]

It's too bad they don't make like a pistol grip delete plug you could shove in to seal it off until the day comes when you leave California LOL. We need a delete plug!

Why not just take the grip off and lock it in a box. It's pretty comfortable like a garand or bolt action like this.

[Steponmytoes]

Anyone have any idea what the solar tactical grip wrap looks like for a vepr? Cant find a pic anywhere...

[Devon]

monster man grip

I like the monster man grip I have on mine. It uses and AK adaptor, (the grip was designed for the AR) and it required some fitting. I had to cut web on the back of the grip as well to fit the profile of the stock, but I own a cabinet shop and plastic is easy to cut on a chop saw and finish with a file. However, took me a few hours to do really well.

I was a little worried the gun would be harder to hold on to, being more recoil that and AR, and it isn't too bad. However, it is not as good as the traditional pistol grip. I get more shoulder bruising because your can't really hold on with your trigger hand, you just kind of support it and your shoulder takes more recoil. In my opinion, on my body, and I have very strong hands and arms.

Again, unscrew the pistol grip, think fixed stock and brake no flash hider, bam, you featureless. Sucks to shoot, but legal.

Now the AK is one gun that I would really love to have and folder stock on and have an under 30" length, so I may register it. But time will tell. Great post.

[uxo2]

I prefer Solartac..

[milw50717]

I settled on a Solar Tactical grip wrap. I tried the Monsterman but found that it twisted and spun on the receiver because the AR-to-AK adaptor required didn't adequately capture the square nut that protrudes through the receiver like the standard pistol grips do.

That is interesting as I have just fitted such an adaptor and fettled a MMG to fit and I did notice that unless you screw it down quite hard that it would move. There is a nice warning on the adaptor packaging that state 'Do not overtighten', so I'm wondering how well it will stand up over time.

I ran a wrap on an AR for a while and had to replace the supplied nuts and bolts with something more substantial. At the end of the day I preferred the MMG over the wrap.

[SandHill]

^^^^Maybe it would help to put some blue Loktite on it?

[luckyduck]

Why not just take the grip off and lock it in a box. It's pretty comfortable like a garand or bolt action like this.

Sorry, what? Shooting a pistol grip AK without the pistol grip is uncomfortable and functionally awkward.


Other points:

1. The hardware that comes with the Solar Tac grip fins sucks. It's made of soft aluminum or steel.

2. MMG does not put the shooters dominant hand in the correct orientation for weapons manipulation like the grip fin retains.

3. You can make your own grip wrap with Kydex and an oven/heat gun.

4. You can also devise other methods to attach or cold weld on a plastic fin to an existing grip.

[morthrane]

The MMG is definitely better for ambidextrous shooting in my experience, but you can still shoot lefty with a RH grip wrap. Awkward, but will get the job done.

For long arm retention and general handling, I think both are a wash. Both can be held one handed (if you have enough arm strength), by pulling the buttstock into your shoulder, crook of the elbow, or even against the hip. But without that second point of contact to anchor the pull against the MMG or gripwrap, one handed retention is not realistic IMHO. In reflection, maybe the gripwrap has a minute edge against the MMG here, simply because the angle provides more leverage.

As for shooting and recoil, I'm not sure what others are reporting. Regardless of monte carlo, MMG, gripwrap, or whatever, there's enough leverage there to pull the stock into your shoulder. Even with a standard pistol grip, my thumb is not doing much of anything when shouldered and ready to fire.

Getting bruises should not be on the menu short of a 12 gauge with an M4 buttstock. I've used a MMG on a converted Saiga 308 without issue... and that's using a NATO length AK stock with steel plate for a stock pad.